"Life's either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller

Day of Reckoning

Today there was a buzz in the air among those of us with children turning 5 this year. Ready or not, kindergarten registration was upon us.

For some, the choice of where to send your child to school for the next six years (kindergarten to grade five) was easy. Those parents marched or drove to the school, filled out the paperwork and voilà, a spot was theirs. But for others, okay, this mum, this day weighed heavy.

Suddenly the end of the carefree days of being at home with all my littles was in view. In 8 short months one of my chicks will be leaving the nest, and though it’s only to kindergarten, she’ll be gone all day.

It’s funny (interesting funny) that for five years I haven’t let her out of my sight, and when I have, I’ve been able to control who’s company she’s keeping, and now, with a few signatures on paper, this September Miss Q’s world will be unlocked.

Sure, I retain some rights to her freedom. I can still decide who she has playdates with and who she doesn’t; and I can walk to and from school with her. Though on our walk home, Miss Q told me when she gets to kindergarten she can start walking by herself. Oh no, honey, I’m going to be following you until you’re out of this school thanks to your younger sisters.

However, the walk to our neighbourhood school was eye-opening. A walk I had easily made in 15 minutes with a stroller and dog suddenly took 30. How are we ever going to get to school on time? I’m going to have to start walking at 6 a.m. to make the 8:42 start time – thankfully it’s not 8:40.

And so much for her coming home at lunch time for warm soup and a hug. Unless I become an Olympic runner, and squeeze all three girls in the Chariot, that dream is over. Now I’m supposed to put my faith in grade four and five lunch monitors, when she’s never had a babysitter younger than 26? Hope they have their Standard First Aid.

It’s not that I don’t like our neighbourhood school. I think it’s a fine middle of the road choice: not too high-falutin; not too inner city. Miss Q will thrive there, well, let’s face it, at this point she would thrive anywhere we sent her. She’s just that type of kid. At least I hope she continues to be that type of kid.

A giant factor to picking the school for Miss Q was it is close. The thought of driving all over the city for her education, wouldn’t have been a problem if I only had one child, but since there are two more behind her, I couldn’t see myself behind the wheel 6 times a day (between preschool and elementary school). What kind of life would that be for my other two children? Never mind me and Mother Earth.

Though I see the logic of finding the “perfect” school for your little, there is something to be said for staying local. It seems almost novel to stay local in Victoria these days. Miss Q is one of two children in her preschool who are going to a different school next year. The other 14 are heading to the elementary school up the road from their preschool. While some of the kids live within walking distance from the school, there are still just over half who will be driven to the school

Of course it weighs heavy that all Miss Q’s preschool friends are going one way, while she’s going another. And though I know it is only four-year-old preschool and Miss Q is already quite content to keep most of them at arms length (like a true Aquarius), I have to wonder if by sticking to our guns, we’re making the right choice.

If I could wave a magic wand, and call upon my fairy godmother, I know what my choice would be, but that would take winning a million dollars and re-configuring the world – yep, you my readers, might find yourselves moved to suit my every whim.

But, alas, I am only one woman, in love with the life my husband and I have created. And the cold hard fact is with my darling soon-to-be five-year-old who’s forever listening, I can’t dwell on the what ifs, or try to convince her she needs to stay at home with me forever.

Every school has its challenges, and every school has its successes. Come next fall flyers for pizza days will be scattered throughout Victoria, as well as lice alerts. You can bet Miss Q will be there, school bag on her back, maybe sporting a buzz-cut, but eager to learn, from a real educator. “You can teach me how to wash dishes and make dinner this summer, Mum, I need someone who knows how to teach me proper school things.”

Me

I enjoy watching soccer in the rain. Most of our crafts involve glitter, finger paint or both. I am learning to eat my vegetables. And, whether in socks or bare feet, I absolutely hate stepping on Lego. Here I blog about life with my three little girls, husband and dog.